How much would two Saint John parents with two children need to earn in order to get by comfortably?
According to the Saint John Human Development Council and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that number is $18.18 hourly.
That number has been calculated to be Saint John’s living wage — it’s different than a minimum wage and a basic income guarantee.
It’s defined by Living Wage Canada as the hourly rate a household can meet its basic needs, that lifts them out of poverty and gives a basic level of financial security. The report says the living wage is a call to action to employers that those who can pay their staff a living wage should do so.
“The living wage is optional so if you can pay a living wage, if you can evaluate your profit margins and pull it off, I do think there are organizations that could pay a living wage,” says report author Natalia Hicks.
“The beautiful thing is that they don’t have to.”
This is the first time it’s been calculated for the city using the standards for the Canadian Living Wage Framework. It was calculated based on a family of four with two adults each working 35 hours weekly supporting two children.
Waiting to hear what a Living Wage should be in Saint John pic.twitter.com/MwVLrzZpvw
— Kevin Worrell (@kevinhworrell) June 20, 2018